[Icom] EXPENSIVE accessories!!!

Sat, 10 May 2003 17:44:26 -0500

Hi Guys,

Ok, I think this should put the Drake amp to bed.  The Drake needed a new
set of 3-500Z tubes aprox 300.00. Needed a total rebuild on the PS about
200.00 +. So right there is 500.00 in repair for an amp worth about 450.00.
It was parted out to help other people.

I just put the 500.00 toward another 2KL Icom amp.

I guess I am in the minority but I think Icom accy's and parts are dirt
cheap.

I was used to scrounging up parts for Collins or Drake gear and it was not
uncommon to have to pay 150.00 for a Collins main tuning knob.  An Icom
main tuning knob is about 20.00.  I could go on and on but I think you get
the picture. The Collins prices were at least 5 to 6 hundred % more.

Try buying an accy speaker for a Collins is anywhere from 375.00 up and it
is already 50 years old.  A new SP 21 is about 85.00.

I guess it is just all relative to what you have been used to paying.

The very best thing however, is the fact that you can call up Icom on the
phone and get a part. You can call up AES or whomever and it is in stock
and will ship that afternoon.

        William J. Diamond (Bill)
        Rogers, Arkansas USA
        [email protected]

        Ham Radio Operator WR�T
      Flying The Flag Long Before
            It Was Popular

 Please Visit My Icom Radio Page At

 http://pages.sbcglobal.net/wjdiamond/index.html

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of David J. Ring Jr - N1EA
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 4:37 PM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: [Icom] EXPENSIVE accessories!!!

Thanks so much for making it clear!

Now I get it!!!

I am opening a new topic!

WHY oh WHY are Icom accessories so expensive?

Has anyone noticed this?

Thanks!

73

DR
N1EA

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Cook" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 5:24 PM
Subject: RE: [Icom] Ampkeyer For Sale

Hi David,

No, I didn't say "get the Drake amp new home", I said "*find* a new home",
meaning that I'm sure there are any number of people who would love to take
ownership of it if it was working, as I have been so happy with my
hand-me-down SB-200. But, as Bill said, he sold the Drake for parts, which
implies the amplifier may have needed more work to get it in service.

And I can appreciate Bill's preference for single manufacturer integrated
equipment. In my case, I just use what I've got and have had excellent
success with mixed gear, which was what I way trying to say about my
station. I wish I had a budget for a dream station, but I'm happy with my
results.

73, Dave, WA0TTN

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
> Behalf Of David J. Ring Jr - N1EA
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 1:15 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Cc: "David Cook"
> Subject: Re: [Icom] Ampkeyer For Sale
>
>
> Hello David,
>
> I don't understand your message.  It seems to be a
> contradiction to me!
>
> You say the SB-200 "works" great, you use Yaesu transceiver,
> Kenwood mic,
> but then you seem to do an about-face and say "get the Drake amp a new
> home".
>
> Are those Drake amps really bad?
>
> I am using a IC-756/Pro and an old National NCL-2000
> amplifier which uses a
> pair of 8122 ceramic vacuum tubes.  It always has been a good
> amp and seems
> to work well with the Icom.  National was the company which
> patented the
> type AB2 amplifier - and the NCL-2000 is a type AB2 amp.
>
> How I picked the amplifier was when I was N1EA/MM (maritime
> mobile) in the
> Pacific beyond Hawaii, I listened to the signals that were
> big and several
> of them big signals were using the NCL-2000 amplifier - that
> sold me.  They
> also were using 4 element monobanders.  The 3 element beams just quit
> working when you get past Hawaii.  And the 4 element beams
> are S-5 or so.  I
> was amazed.
>
> I read the eHam reports on my amp, and someone even sold
> their Alpha to go
> with this amp.  But are the Icom amps so much better?
>
> Clue me in because I am clueless as to what you are trying to say!
>
> 73
>
> David Ring, N1EA
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Cook" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 1:56 PM
> Subject: RE: [Icom] Ampkeyer For Sale
>
>
> I have to agree with Tim. I inherited an old SB-200,
> installed the Harbauch
> upgrades (one of which being the equivalent of the Ampkeyer)
> and it works
> great. I use a Yeasu transceiver and Kenwood desk microphone and get
> excellent audio and signal reports. So unless there's something
> fundamentally wrong with the Drake amp, I'd suggest you find
> a good home for
> it (if you haven't already).
>
> 73, Dave, WA0TTN
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On
> > Behalf Of radiodaz
> > Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 7:51 AM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: [Icom] Ampkeyer For Sale
> >
> >
> >   Clean Icom audio into an OLD DRAKE AMP.. what goes in comes out.
> > tim
> > wb8uhz
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "wjdiamond" <[email protected]>
> > To: "Icom@Mailman. Qth. Net" <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 11:43 PM
> > Subject: [Icom] Ampkeyer For Sale
> >
> >
> > > Hi Folks,
> > >
> > > I have a brand new Ampkeyer that I bought to use with my
> > 756 PRO and a
> > > Drake Amplifier.  The more I thought about it, I just did
> > not want to put
> > > clean Icom RF into an old Drake amp so I got another Icom amp.
> > >
> > > This is an opto isolator unit and they sell for 40.00 plus
> > 6.00 shipping.
> > > I will ship this one for 35.00 in the lower 48 states.
> > >
> > > These are supposed to be the best around...
> > >
> > >         William J. Diamond (Bill)
> > >         Rogers, Arkansas USA
> > >         [email protected]
> > >
> > >         Ham Radio Operator WR�T
> > >       Flying The Flag Long Before
> > >             It Was Popular
> > >
> > >  Please Visit My Icom Radio Page At
> > >
> > >  http://pages.sbcglobal.net/wjdiamond/index.html
> > >
> > >
> > > ----
> > > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected]
> > > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz
> > > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> > >
> >
> > ----
> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected]
> > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz
> > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> >
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected]
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected]
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>

----
Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected]
Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz
Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/

----
Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected]
Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz
Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/